Display apparatus



April 25, 1961 J. K. MARTIN DISPLAY APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1 1959 INVENTOR. JAMES K. MART\N BY April 25, 1961 J. K. MARTIN 2,981,582

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 39 aa 4a INVENTOR. JAMEs K. MARTIN United States Patent Ofiice 2,981,582 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 DISPLAY APPARATUS I James K. Martin, 2122 S. Kenilworth Ave., Bel-Wyn, Ill.

Filed Sept. 1, 1959, Ser. No. 837,406

Claims. (Cl. 312-132) This invention relates to a display device and more particularly to a cabinet which is adapted to be utilized in publicly displaying articles in museums, archives, and similar institutions.

' In these institutions floor space is usually of a premium because of the large number of articles that are available for exhibit in comparison to the physical dimensions of the display area in which the articles can be exhibited. In arranging articles for display in such institutions it is generally desirable to display small articles in a manner such that the articles cannot be easily removed by an individual viewing them so that a minimum number of policing personnel is required to prevent loss of such articles. This is especially true in the display of important documents, such as historical documents, which are by their nature readily picked up and concealed on the person of individual viewers.

The display cabinet of this invention has particular utility in displaying generally flat and relatively thin articles like such documents, and it is a primary object of this invention to so construct a display cabinet as to enable a large number of articles to be mounted in a minimum space in a manner such that each viewer can select any desired article of the group thus mounted for his individual scrutiny. It is a related object of this invention to so mount such articles that the viewer cannot tear, deface, or otherwise injure such articles and cannot remove them from the display cabinet.

In accordance with this invention individual framing units, which are adapted to clamp an article to be displayed therein, are each slidably mounted in a case which has longitudinally extending guideways disposed in different parallel planes. The length of the individual framing units and the display case are so related that each individual framing unit may be moved back and forth in a guideway to selectively conceal and disclose to view each of the individual framing units; and to incorporate such structure in a display cabinet in a novel and eflicacious manner is another object of this invention.

It is another object of this invention to mount a plurality of such display cases in a cabinet in a manner such that all of the display cases may be conveniently viewed from a single view point.

It is another object of this invention to so construct such display cabinets as to enable two or more cabinets to be arranged in side-by-side or back-to-back relation with no loss of space by reason of such combined arrangement.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation view of the display cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevation view, in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 5--5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an individual framing unit adapted to be utilized with the display cabinet illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 8-8 in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in section, of an individual display case having a plurality of individual framing units, like the unit illustrated in Fig. 7, mounted therein.

With reference now to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, one embodiment of a display cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in various views and is indicated generally by the reference numeral 21. The display cabinet 21 includes a lower base 22 and an upper display case mounting assembly 23 which is supported by the base 22. With particular reference to Fig. 3, it is seen that the base 22 is in the main part formed from a single sheet which is suitably bent to afford inside panels 24 and 26 and a-front panel 27. A metal sheet of suitable gauge is preferably utilized for so forming the sides and front of the base 22. With continued reference to Fig. 3, it is seen that the lower edges of the edges of the panels 24, 26, and 27 are bent inwardly to form inner flanges, and corner gussets 28 are suitably attached to the flanges thus formed. The vertically extending rearward edges of the side panels 24 and 26 are also bent inwardly to afford flanges and the upper edges of these side panels are likewise bent inwardly. A pair of angle members 29 and 31 extend between the side panels and are connected at opposite ends within the corners defined by the vertical and horizontal flanges of the end panels whereby a strong and rigid box-like construction of the base 22 is obtained.

The upper assembly 23 comprises a pair of end members or walls 32 and 33 as well as upper and lower troughs, or containers, 34 and 36 (see Figs. 3 and 4) which extend longitudinally between the end walls and which comprise means for mounting individual display cases presently to be described. The troughs 34 and 36 are of a generally rectangular configuration, and each has a planar rearward panel as well as planar end, top, and bottom panels so as to afford an open front which is coextensive with the length and height of the trough. As viewed in Fig. 3, the troughs are preferably connected to the end walls 32 and 33 by a plurality of fillet head screws 37 which are preferably of such a length as to be flush with the exterior surface of the end walls 32 and 33 and with the interior surfaces of the end panels of the troughs.

As viewed in Fig. 3, the rearward edges of the end walls 32 and 3 3 as well as the lower horizontal edges of these end walls may be bent inwardly to form inwardly projecting flanges similar to the flanges of the base 22. A pair of sway braces 38 and 39 extend diagonally across the rear portion of the cabinet and are attached at opposite ends to the flanges formed at the 3 rearward vertically extending edges of the base and the upper assembly 32 to thereby securely attach the upper assembly to the base. A tie plate 41 interconnects the struts 39 and 38 at the crossed portions thereof. The upper assembly 32 and the base 22 may additionally be connected together by any suitable means, at one or more points along the co-extensive inwardly projecting flanges of the end panels of each unit.

As best viewed in Fig. 1, the end walls'32 and 33 are each seen to have a generally triangular shaped lower portion and a vertically projecting upper portion such that the upper trough 34 is substantially vertically aligned within the cabinet 21 while the lower trough 36 projects downwardly and forwardly from the upper trough. Thus, the two troughs are disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to one another, and this angular relationship of the troughs is for the purpose of facilitating viewing, from a single view point, of a plurality of display cases mounted within the trough in a manner now to be described.

In accordance with this invention, a plurality of display cases, four in number in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, are adapted to be removably mounted within the troughs 34 and 36.

With particular reference now to Figs. 5, 6, and 9 the display cases, which are of equal overall dimensions, are indicated by the reference numerals 42-45. The display cases are of a generally rectangular configurationand have a length which is half that of the trough members so that two such display cases 42 may be mounted in abutting relation within a single trough. The display cases each comprise a rearward wall, top and bottom walls, and one end wall and each may preferably be formed from a single piece of sheet metal. Thus, and as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 9, the display cases 42 each have an open front and are also open at one end. With the exception of the fact that the open ends of the display cases 42 and 45 are disposed oppositely that of the cases 43 and 44, the display cases are of identical construction. The display cases are so dimensioned that the exterior surfaces of the display cases fit within the inner cavities afforded by the troughs 34 and 36 and the display cases are so disposed within the trough members that the closed ends of a pair of display cases are in abutting relation with one another while the open ends are covered by the opposite end panels of the trough.

The display casw are preferably fixed in position within the troughs as by a limited member of fillet head cap screws 47, see Figs. 4 and 9, which extend through the rear panels of the troughs and the rear walls of the display cases and each of these screws is cut to such a length as to be flush with the exterior surface of the trough and with the interior surface of the display case. Only a small number of screws or other fasteners should be employed to facilitate removal of the display cases and thus provide for convenient changing of the documents on display.

Each of the display cases include guide means which are adapted to mount a plurality of display frames, like the frame illustrated in Fig. 7, for sliding movement in a longitudinal direction within the display case. As 'best viewed in Fig. 5, the guide means may preferably comprise a series of longitudinally extending angle strips 48, each of which has one leg or flange connected to an inner surface of a top or a bottom wall of the display case so that the other leg of the angle projects toward the opposite wall of the display case. The inwardly projecting legs of the angle strips are thus disposed in a series of parallel planes which are spaced apart by the flange so connected to the display case wall.

A molding 49 is preferably mounted on the forwardmost angle strips of each display case so as to lend a decorative appearance to the display cabinet 21.

The guide means formed by the angle strips 48 are adapted to mount a plurality of individual display frames within the display cases in a manner such that frames may be moved back and forth within the guide means in a longitudinal direction to conceal and disclose various selected ones of the frames.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is illustrated a display frame which is designated generally by the reference numeral 51. The frame 51 includes a tray 52 which, as indicated in Fig. 8, is formed by upwardly directed flanges 52F at the edges of a base plate 52B. A transparent plate 53 of glass or other suitable material, such as a transparent plastic, is so dimensioned as to be received within the tray 52, and a plurality of fillet head cap screws 54 are utilized 'to retain the transparent plate within the tray. Thus, it is apparent that the cap screws 54 are effective to clamp an article to be viewed, such as a document 56 which is shown in cross section in Fig. 8, between the two plates 52B and 53. Slide blocks 57 are mounted on the upper and lower flanges 52F at the corner portions of the frame by fillet head cap screws 58. These blocks may preferably be of a nylon composition and are receivable between the channels defined between two adjacent and inwardly projecting flanges of the angle pieces 48 for mounting the frame 51 within the display case. The length of the frame 51 is just half that of the display case in which it is mounted so that two such frames 51-1 and 51-2, see Fig. 9, may be positioned in side-by-side relation within the rearwardmost channels afforded by the angle pieces 48.

The frames 51 are inserted through the open end of the display cases prior to mounting the display cases within the troughs 34 and 36. To obtain the maximum utilization of the available space within each display case, two such frames 51-1 and 52-2 are thus inserted Within the rearwardmost channels of the guide means. Additional individual frames 51-3, 51-4, 51-5 and 51-6 are next inserted within the individual channels forward of the two frames 51-1 and 51-2 as illustrated in Fig. 9. The display case is then mounted within the container trough by means of the cap screws 47, and two of the articles mounted within the framing units 51-1 to 51-6 may be simultaneously viewed. If an onlookershould wish to see some particular article of the group so mounted within the display case he may conveniently do so by sliding the frames 51-3 to 51-6 in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 9.

It will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 9 that the manner in which each display case is mounted within the respective container trough enables an end panel of the trough to cover the open end of the display case so that the frames cannot be removed from this display case while the case is mounted within the cabinet. Nor is it possible for the onlooker to remove any of the frames through the open front of the display case since the inwardly projecting flanges of the guide means are effective to engage the slide blocks 47 and prevent such movement of the framing units. The manner inwhich the article being displayed is completely enclosed within the individual framing units prevents any tearing, defacing, or other injury to the article.

Returning briefly to Figs. 1-4, it should be noted that the display cabinet 21 incorporates flat, planar sides and vertically extending rearward edges which are substantially free of any protruding surfaces so that two or more of the display cabinets can be arranged in either a side-by-side or a back-to-back relation without losing any floor space by reason of such an arrangement.

Thus, a display cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention enables a large number of articles to be displayed'within a minimum of space in a manner such that the articles cannot readily be removed from the cabinet, cannot be torn or defaced, and yet are conveniently viewed by an onlooker. A display cabinet constructed in accordance with this invention is of a light weight but strong construction and is attractive in overall appearenemas ance. The external configuration of the cabinet is such that a plurality of such cabinets can be arranged side-byside or back-to-back in island-type displays for effectively concentrating a group of related documents or other articles in one display. The display can be changed frequently simply by removing and replacing the frame units or the display cases, and the frame units and dis play cases afford a safe, convenient, and fully protected storage arrangement for the documents or the like. In fact, a substantial number of frame units and display cases can be stored in the base portion of the cabinet 22.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A display device for displaying documents and the like while preventing removal of such documents therefrom and comprising a cabinet having end walls and display case mounting means extending therebetween, a display case having an open end and an open front and removably mounted in said mounting means so as to have said open end covered by said cabinet, framing means including a tray and a transparent plate fixed therein for retaining an article to be displayed in a fixed position between the tray and the plate, said framing means each having a length which is a sub-multiple of the length of the display case, and guide means in said display case mounting a plurality of said framing means in different parallel planes for sliding movement toward and away from said open end to close and disclose to view through said open front selected ones of said plurality of framing means, said guide means including a plurality of angle strips extending longitudinally along opposed inner surfaces of the display case between the ends thereof and having depending flange portions operative to engage the framing means and prevent removal of such framing means through said open front.

2. A display device for displaying documents and the like while preventing removal of such documents therefrom and comprising a cabinet having end walls and an upper and a lower container for mounting display cases therein extending between said end walls, at least one display case having an open end and an open front removably mounted in each of said containers so as to have said open end covered by an end of said container, framing means having a length which is a sub-multiple of the length of a display case and including a first transparent plate and a second plate for retaining an article to be displayed in a fixed position between said plates, and longitudinally extending guide means in each of said display cases mounting a plurality of said framing means in different parallel planes for sliding movement toward and away from said open end to close and disclose to view through said open front selected ones of said plurality of framing means, said upper container being vertically aligned within said cabinet and said lower container being inclined downwardly and forwardly from the upper cabinet so as to facilitate viewing of all of said display cases from a single viewpoint.

3. A display device for displaying documents and the like while preventing removal of such documents therefrom and comprising, a cabinet having end walls and display case mounting means extending therebetween, a plurality of display cases mounted in said mounting means, each of said display cases having an open end and a closed end and an open front, said display cases being mounted in the cabinet in pairs in a manner such that the display cases in each pair have their closed ends abutting one another and their open ends covered by said cabinet, each of said display cases having a plurality of longitudinally extending guide means formed therein and disposed in different parallel planes, and a plurality of framing means each having a length which is a sub-multiple of the length of a display case and each including a first transparent plate and a second plate adapted to clamp an article to be displayed there between, said framing means being slidably mounted within said guide means for movement toward and away from said open end in a manner such that a framing means in a forward plane is positionable to cover and uncover a framing means in a rearward plane.

4. A display device for displaying documents and the like while preventing removal of such documents therefrom and comprising, a cabinet having end walls and display case mounting means extending therebetween, a plurality of display cases mounted in said mounting means, each of said display cases having an open end and a closed end and an open front, said display cases being mounted in the cabinet in pairs in a manner such that the display cases in each pair have their closed ends abutting one another and their open ends covered by said cabinet, each of said display caseshaving a plurality of longitudinally extending guide means formed therein and disposed in different parallel planes, and. a plurality of framing means each having a length which is a submultiple of the length of a display case and each including a first transparent plate and a second plate adapted to clamp an article to be displayed therebetween, said framing means being slidably mounted within said guide means for movement toward and away from said open end in a manner such that a framing means in a forward plane is positionable to cover and uncover a framing means in a rearward plane, said cabinet end walls having planar, vertically extending surfaces and vertically extending rearward edges so that a plurality of said cabinets are arrangeable in adjoining side-by-side and backto-back relation with no lost space therebetween.

5. A display device for displaying documents and the like while preventing removal of such documents therefrom and comprising, a cabinet having end walls and display case mounting means extending therebetween, said mounting means including an upper and a lower trough member, each having closed ends, a plurality of display cases each having one open and one closed end and an open front mounted in said troughs in pairs in a manner such that the display cases in each pair have their closed end abutting one another and their open ends coverd by the ends of said troughs and their open fronts facing outwardly of the troughs, each of said display cases having a plurality of longitudinally extending guide means formed therein and disposed in different parallel planes, and a plurality of framing means, each having a length which is a sub-multiple of the length of a display case and each including a first transparent plate and a second plate adapted to clamp an article to be displayed t-herebetween, slidably mounted within said guide means for movement toward and away from said open end in a manner such that a forward framing means is positionable to cover and uncover a rearward framing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,980 Gale Dec. 4, 1928 1,757,076 Eckerly May 6, 1930 2,361,479 Jofio Oct. 31, 1944 2,804,181 Haynes Aug. 27, 1957 

